Machine for convergent irradiation



y 6, 1953 J. GERNETH MACHINE FOR-CONVERGENT IRRADIATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1949 Inventor JOSEF GERNETH Arforn eys May 26, 1953 Filed Sept. 30, 1949 J. GERNETH MAQHINE FOR CONVERGENT IRRADIATION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JOSEF GERNETH Guava/gm Attorneys May 26, 1953 J GERNETH 2,640,159

MACHINE FOR CONVERGENT IRRADIATION Filed Sept. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnl" I -nlllllll 0 EF QEfi'EvQ F g. J s

Attorneys May 26, 1953 J. GERNETH 2,640,159

MACHINE FOR CONVERGENT IRRADIATION Filed Sept. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor JOSEF GERNETH Attorneys Patented May 26, 1953 MACHINE FOR CONVERGEN'T-IRRADI-AETION;

Jiosef Gerneth, Erlangen, Germans, assignor to Siemens-Reiniger-Werke, Erlangen, Germany.

Application September 30, I949, Serial No;- 1'18,849 In Germany Noveni'ber zfi', 1948- l i'Claimsi 1 This invention relates to a machine for convergent irradiation, and relates more particular- 1y to a therapeutic device for treating inner organs of" a human body by various types of irradiation, such as X-rays, electrons, neutrons, electro -magnetic radiation or ultra sound waves. The term convergent irradiation is' used throughout the-specification and claims for the purpose of describing a therapeutic ray treatment, inthe course of which the location of the source of the rays is shifted during irradiation in such manner that the rays directed to a specific organ pass consecutively through different locations upon the skin surface of the human body so as to protect the skinfrom detrimental effects.

An object of the'present invention is the provision of a therapeutic device which is so constructed that the therapeutic'rays are distributed over the largest possible skin surface of the human body at a constant distance of the source from the organ to be treated;

A further object is the provision of a therapeutic device which is so constructed that all parts of the body surface through which radiation is passed will be uniformly affected.

A further object is the provision of a therapeutic machine of the described type which is so constructed that one treatment with the machine moving in a determined direction can be followed immediately by a second treatment with the machine moving in an opposite direction.

Yet another object is the provision of a therapeutic machine of the described type, wherein irradiation at a time the source is immovable, is effectively avoided.

Still another object is the provision of a movable electrical radiation source which is so constructedv that the twisting of the cable is effectively avoided.

Still afurther object is the provision of a therapeutic device of the described type which is comparativelysmall in size, inexpensive to manufacture and most effective in operation.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the followin specification.

The objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a device wherein the X-ray tube, or other source of irradiation, is moved automatically during the irradiation period upon a spherical surface, the center of the. spherecoinciding with the location of the diseased part or organ to be treated, the rays being radially directed and describing a spiral upon the spherical surface. A uniform distance of the 2 source-of irradiation from the'organ tobe treated and a distribution" of the rays upon a large body surface aretherebyattained. A uniform specific irradiation of all parts ofthis body surface can beachieved by increasing the speed of movement of thes'ourc'e with the diminishing radius of the spiral: In general it, isadvisable to select the speed ofimovement of the-source in such manner that the treatment is completed While the rays move once over the entire spiral path. It is advisable to'use'as driving means a reversible electric motor so that a second irradiation having an" opposed direction can immediately follow the first onez Furthermore, means shouldbe provided to continue irradiation of the patient and to interrupt it as airesult ofthe movement of the source, thereby-avoiding the danger-that irradiation may continue while the source is standing still; The switchingon and off ofthe driving motor and the reversalof itsmovement can-also be caused bythe movement of the source, although care mustbe'takenthat the source is switched off prior tot-he switching of the motor. Since the-source is usuallysupplied with electricity through a cable, it is advisable to avoid the Winding: of=the-cable by providing means which in the course ofmovement of the-source prevent its rotation about an-axis-coinciding with the center ray thereof.- Through theuseof guiding means Which turn the source to not more than 180 about'thecenterray thereof during the movement of the illumination along. one-half of a winding" of: the spiral path, and which turnthe source-in the oppositedirectionduring the movement of: the illumination along thesecondhalf of the same winding: the apparatus may be made quite 'smalL-even when the source of the irradiatione-is an; -X-,-ray tube which extends in a direction perpendicular totthe-direction of the aforesaid center ray. An=automaticshifting of the illumination along a spiral upona spherical surface and a uniform distribution of the irradiation upon, the human; skin-surface may be attained, by way'z of example,- by the-useof a circular guide along which the source is shifted by means of a motor duringtheirradiation; and which, at the sa'mje'tim'e, is driven to turn about an axis coinciding-"with the-radius of the circular guide. The centen-of the circle-must coincide with'the locationof the diseased part of the body.

Thain vention willwappear more clearly from the-followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction'with accompanying drawings showing; byway; of? example, a preferred' embodiment of thefinventive'idea'.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the device shown in Figure l, partly in section;

Figure 3 shows the entire device on a smaller scale and in longitudinal section along the lines 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a top view of the device on a smaller scale.

The machine shown in the drawings includes a casing 32 which contains an X-ray tube 9. The path of movement of the X-ray tube is provided by two curved rails I, the center of the curvature of which is designated by the numeral II. The two rails I are located in parallel planes, and their legs are directed toward each other. The rails I are provided with flanges 2 carrying bolts 2a and mounted upon a ring 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ring 3 is U-shaped in cross-section, and carries four rollers 4 which are rotatably mounted upon pivots 4a carried by the ring 3.

The rollers 4 are supported within a guide 5 of annular form. which is rotatable about an axis In, as will appear in detail hereinafter. For the sake of clarity parts of the member 5 are shown as being broken off in Figure 2.

A so-called compression tube 30. shown in Figures 1 and 3, is connected to the bottom surface of the guide 5.

The guide 5 is firmly connected with the casing 32 which is firmly connected with a projecting arm 6.

The arm 6 may be attached to a bracket not shown in the drawings, and adjustable in a vertical direction.

The X-ray tube 9 is firmly mounted upon a carriage I provided with rollers 8. tube 9 carries a conical tube I2 which is firmly connected therewith. The X-ray tube 9, with the tube I2, are rotatable about an axis 3 I, which coincides with the central ray emitted by the X-ray tube.

In Figure 1 the tube 9 is illustrated in one of its end positions upon the rail I, while Figure 2 shows the tube in its other end position.

The right-hand side of the rails I (looking in the direction of Figures 1 and 2) is firmly connected with the casing I3, carrying the driving motor I 4. The motor I4 i supplied with electric power by means not illustrated in the drawingsfor example, through contact rings supplied with electricity through an insulated ring located at the bottom of the ring 3.

It should be noted that the motor I4 and the casing I3 are located upon one side of the guides I, while the carriage I moves upon the other side of the guides I. This arrangement provides a more uniform distribution of weight upon the ring 3.

The motor I4 has a motor shaft I5 which carries a worm I6, meshing with a gear I'I, keyed upon a shaft I8.

The shaft I8 is firmly connected with a pinion I9 meshing with a toothed crown 20, which is located upon the upper edge of the guide 5, and is firmly connected therewith. Furthermore, the shaft I8 is firmly connected with a cone gear 2I meshing with a gear 2 la which is keyed upon the shaft 23 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6). The shaft 23 is rigidly connected with a worm 23a meshing with a gear 22. The gear 22 is keyed upon a shaft 24, which is thus slowly rotated by the motor I4.

The X-ray The shaft 24 carries cams 25 and 26 which are located upon the ends of the shaft 24, and are rotated thereby. The cams 25 and 2B are connected with ropes, strings or chains 21 and 28, respectively. The member 2! is attached directly to the carriage I, while the member 28 is passed over a pulley 29 which is mounted upon the ring 3 and is located substantially opposite the cam 26. Thus, the member 28, which is also attached to the carriage 1, pulls the carriage in the opposite direction from that of the member 21. As the shaft 24 is rotated the extent of winding of one of the members 2! or 28 is the same as the extent of unwinding of the other member. Due to this arrangement, the carriage I, along with the X-ray tube 9 carried thereby, is prevented from being shifted involuntarily throughout its various positions in the course of radiation.

The guides I carry contacts which are not illustrated in the drawings, and which engage other contacts carried by the X-ray tube (also not shown), so that the X-ray tube is switched on automatically shortly after the beginning of the movement of its carriage upon the guides. The X-ray tube is switched off automatically by similar means shortly before the end of the movement of the carriage upon the guides. Similar contacts (not shown) may be used to switch oil! the motor I4 or to reverse its direction of rotation when the carriage I has reached the position shown in Figure 2.

The driving motor I4 is preferably provided with a centrifugal regulator.

The spiral movement of the X-ray tube is attained in the following manner:

When the motor is switched on it drives the shaft I8 by means of the motor shaft I5, the worm I5 and the gear IT. The shaft I8 drives, on the one hand, the pinion I9, which meshes with the crown 20 and thereby causes a rotation of the ring 3 with the guides I carried thereby about the axis I0.

On the other hand, the shaft I8 drives the cams 25 and 26 through the worm 2|, the gear 2 Ia, the shaft 23, the worm 23a, the gear 22 and the shaft 24, the rotation of the cams 25 and 28 being considerably slower than the rotation of the ring 3 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6). The cams 25 and 25 operate the pulling members 21 and 28 so that the carriage 1 with the X-ray tube is moved slowly along the guides I while these guides are being rotated by the ring 3. The form of these cams 25 and 26 is so selected that the speed of movement of the carriage 1 increases steadily with a decrease in the radius of the spiral. It is apparent that this spiral path is carried out by the X-ray tube as a result of the combined movements along the guides I and about the axis I0. Due to the variation in the form of the cams the specific irradiation of all parts of the outer surface of the body to be treated remains the same.

Figure 3 shows two positions of the X-ray tube 9, the second position being illustrated by broken lines.

Figure 4 shows by broken lines six different positions of the X-ray tube.

The X-ray tube 9 carries two guide rolls 33 which roll upon the inner surfaces of the casing 32, namely, upon the left side of the casing (looking in the direction of Figure 3). During this rolling movement of the rollers 33, the X-ray tube moves along one-half of the winding of the spiral, and, at the same time, turns about the central ray axis: at to the" extent. or 130 producing a slight twist or. the cables: leading to the Karat tubeand not shown rm the drawings? n the other hand. the right-hand; side or the casing 32 suuare (Figure: 4)"; and? is of; such dimensions that the X-ray tuber-9 cal-ntu'rnconvenient'ly about the axis" 31;. the slight twist imparted duringtlrg movement o'f'the X's-ray tubealong the first half of aiwindihgof: avspiral is easily eliminated during: the. movement along the second halt of the same winding:

lit is: apparent that the example above shown has been: given solely by way" or illustration and not by way of limitation. and: tha-ttit is subject to a number or" variations; and. modifications, without departing from? thescope or method of the present invention...

For example, a: toothediiraili having: the form of. a spiralmay be arfixedc to-the inner suriaice of a. sphere and the motorrwith the X-ray tube hanging therefrom maybemoved along the rail by means. of a motor-drivenpinion; All such and other variations and modifications arewtobe included within the scope of: the present invention.

What is claimed is:

I. A therapeuticmachine for convergent irradiation, comprising in combinatlon with. asource of irradiation; two U=-shaped circularly curved guides extending paral'lel to caclr other andwith their'legsa directed toward .each;other,*. meansmoving' saidr source-uponsaid' guides; means rotating said 'guides a casing enclosing'sai'd guides}. rollers carried bysaid'ssourcegsaid casing having a guide formeduporrinner surta'ces thereof. and: engaged by said rollers during one half of: a: winding: of the spiral path or said: source in relation:- to said casing; to: cause a rotation or said source to an angle of I80 about anaxis coinciding: with the central ray of the radiation of saidsource, said rollers: being: devoid of contactwith the rastmentioned guide during the other halfof said winding.

2'; An apparatus for irradiating ai diseased organ located the body-or a; patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising" in combinationwith a source of rays, means automatically moving said source during irradiation upon a spherical surface having a center coinciding witli sa i diorgan, means connected with the F first-mentioned means and directing said rays radially toward said center, and meansconnected withthe first-mentioned means .andiguidirig said source along a spiral. path.

3.v An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising. in combination with a source ofra ys, a circularly curved guide, means mov'ably' supporting said source upon said guide, irriean's connected with the first-mentioned meansand directing the rays thereof tothe center of the circular curvature of said guide, automaticallyoperable meansconnected: with said source and moving said source along. said guide during irradiation, and automatically operable means connected with said guide and rotating said guide about an axis which constitutes a radius of said circular curvature, whereby said source will describe a spiral path. 4. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly curved guide for the source, means movably supporting said source upon said guide and di rooting: the rays thereof to the; center of the circuiar'curvature of said: guide, a ring. carrying said guide, said ring being rotatable about' an axis constituting a radius of said circular cur-'- vature; a motor rotating said ring during illumination, and automatically operable means moving said'source along saidguide during irradiation.

5; An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly curved guide for thesource, means movably supporting source upon said guide and directing therays thercofto the center of the circular curvature of said guide, a ring carrying said guide;v said ring being rotatable about an axis constituting a radius of said circular curvature, a'stationary toothed crown enclosing said rotatable ring, a motor mounted upon said ring, a gear driven by said" motor and engaging said crown: to rotate said ring and said guide during illumination, and a driv connected with said motor. a-ndwsaid source to move said source upon said guide during illumination. I

6: An apparatus: for irradiating a diseased organ locatedwithin'the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays; comprising in combination with. a source of rays, a circularly curved" guidefor the source, means-movably supporting said source upon saidguideanddi-recting the rays thereof to the center of the-circular curvature of said-guide, a ri ngcarryingsaid guide, sai'dring being rotatableabout an axis constituting a radius ofsaid circular curvature, a stationary toothed crown enclosing, said rotatable ring, a motor mounted upon said. ring, a pinion drivenby saidmotor and engaging said crown torotate saidring and said guide during illumination,.a-- pulley rotated by said motor during illumination, and a flexible pulling element having one end connected with said source and another endconnectcdwith said pulley and being woundupon said pulley. during rotation thereof to pullsaid source uponsaidguide.

7-. An v apparatus for irradiating adiseased org-an located with-in the body of. apatient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly cur-vedguide for the source, means movably supportingssa-id source upon said guide and directing the rays thereof to the center of the circular curvature'ofsaid guide, a'ring'. carrying said guide, said. ring being. rotatable about an axis consti-tuting: a radius of said circular curvature, a stationary toothed crown enclosing said rotatable ring, a -revcrsiblemotor mounted upon said ring, a piniondrivenby said motor and engaging said crown Jo-rotate said ring and said guide during illumination, a pulley rotatable by said motor during illumination, and two flexible pulling. elementshaving ends connected to opposed sides of said source corresponding to directions of movement thereof and other ends connected with said pulley, whereby one of said pullingelements pulls said source. upon saidguide during rotati'ori of said pulley.

8. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly curved guide for the source, means movably supporting said source upon said guide and directing the rays thereof to the center of the circular curvature of said guide, a ring carrying said guide, said ring being rotatable about amaxis constituting a radius of said circular curvature, a stationary toothed crown enclosing said rotatable ring, a reversible motor mounted upon said ring, a pinion driven by said motor and engaging said crown to rotate said ring and said guide during illumination, a pulley rotatable by said motor during illumination, two flexible pulling elements having ends connected to opposed sides of said source corresponding to directions of movement thereof and other ends connected with said pulley, whereby one of said pulling elements pulls said source upon said guide during rotation of said pulley, and means reversing said motor at predetermined locations of said source upon said guide.

9. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, means connected with said source and automatically moving said source during irradiation upon a spherical surface having a center coinciding with said organ, means connected with said source for directing said rays radially toward said center, means guiding said source along a spiral, and means connected with the first-mentioned means and increasing the speed of movement of said source as the radius of said spiral is decreased.

10. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, means automatically moving said source during irradiation upon a spherical surface having a center coinciding with said organ, means connected with the first-mentioned means for directing said rays radially toward said center, means guiding said source along a spiral, and means connected with said source and switching on and off said irradiation depending upon the movement of said source.

11. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with an electrically movable source of rays, a circularly curved guide for the source, means movably supporting said source upon said guide and directing the rays of the source to the center of the circular curvature of said guide, a ring carrying said guide, said ring being rotatable about an axis constituting a radius of said circular curvature, a motor rotating said ring during irradiation, automatically operable means moving said source along said guide during irradiation, means automatically switching on and off the electrical current for said source depending upon movements of the source, and means switching off said motor in predetermined positions of said source upon said guide.

12. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, means automatically moving said source during irradiation upon a spherical surface having a center coinciding with said organ, means guiding said source along a spiral path, means directing said rays radially toward said center, and means preventing said source from turning more than about the central ray thereof during the movement of said source.

13. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly curved guide for the source, means supporting said source upon said guide for rotation about the central ray of said source and for movement along said guide with said rays being directed to the center of the circular curvature of said guide, automatically operable means moving said source along said guide during irradiation, automatically operable means rotating said guide about an axis which constitutes a radius of said circular curvature, and guide means operable during each rotation of said guide by 360 to turn said source about its central ray to an angle of 180 during the guide rotation ranging from 0 to 180 and releasing said source during the guide rotation ranging from 180 to 360.

14. An apparatus for irradiating a diseased organ located within the body of a patient with therapeutically operative rays, comprising in combination with a source of rays, a circularly curved guide for the source, means supporting said source upon said guide for movement along said guide and rotation about the central ray of said source and directing the rays of the source to the center of the circular curvature of said guide, automatically operable means moving said source along said guide during irradiation, automatically operable means rotating said guide about an axis which constitutes a radius of said circular curvature, a casing enclosing said guide, and rollers carried by said source, said casing having a fixed guide formed upon an inner surface thereof and guiding said rollers during each rotation of the guide by 360 solely in the range of 0 to 180 and thereby causing a turning of said source about its central ray to an angle of 180 JOSEF' GERNETH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 981,256 Fullerton Jan. 10, 1911 1,408,559 Zulauf Mar. 7, 1922 1,599,696 Wantz Sept. 14, 1926 1,887,801 Cole Nov. 15, 1932 2,058,105 Pohl Oct. 20, 1936 2,139,966 Loebell Dec. 13, 1938 2,472,745 Frevel June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 120,097 Austria Nov. 25, 1930 123,130 Austria June 10, 1931 287,291 Germany Sept. 20, 1915 418,214 Germany Sept. 4, 1925 458,677 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1936 

